Stallone Took the Role to Beat Arnold—Only to Fall Into Schwarzenegger’s Trap

In the high-stakes arena of 1980s and ’90s action cinema, the rivalry between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone was legendary—fueling box office battles, headline-grabbing press spats, and even clashes over roles and women. But perhaps the most cunning move came from Schwarzenegger, who orchestrated what he calls his “finest moment” of trolling: tricking Stallone into starring in the 1992 film Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, a project Schwarzenegger knew was doomed to flop.

As revealed in the 2024 Fox special TMZ Presents: Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons, Schwarzenegger’s plan played perfectly into Stallone’s competitive nature. When the script landed on Schwarzenegger’s desk, he immediately saw its weaknesses and knew it wasn’t a film he wanted. Instead, he quietly leaked interest in the role through his agent, knowing Stallone would scramble to claim it first. “I didn’t talk him into it because I never talked to him about it,” Schwarzenegger explained, “I just let my agent do the work.”

Stallone, eager not to be outdone by his rival, pushed his own agent to secure the lead role of Sgt. Joe Bomowski—a tough cop whose meddling mother turns crime-fighter alongside him. Despite the film’s comedic premise, Stallone later admitted it was “one of the worst films in the entire solar system.” The backlash was swift and brutal, with critics lambasting the movie and Stallone himself earning a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor.

The film’s failure was not just a commercial disappointment—it became a lasting mark on Stallone’s career. Reflecting years later, Stallone confessed on The Hollywood Reporter that he believed Schwarzenegger “set me up.” The rivalry, which began at the 1977 Golden Globes and fueled decades of competition—both on and offscreen—had culminated in this Machiavellian gambit that caught Stallone off guard.

Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot bombed at the box office, earning just over $70 million worldwide against a $45 million budget, with critics calling it “terrible” and “utterly lacking redeeming value.” The incident remains a defining moment in the two stars’ storied rivalry, with Schwarzenegger gleefully recalling how he was “absolutely in heaven” knowing Stallone would stumble.

Though their feud has mellowed over the years—leading to moments of friendship and collaboration—this episode stands as a testament to Schwarzenegger’s shrewd strategic mind and Stallone’s relentless drive to outdo his rival, even when it cost him dearly.